LAND LINES Promised Lands Officers Anthony Palermo, AICP Chair VACANT Vice Chair Jacqueline Genson, AICP Secretary Jason Green, AICP Treasurer
State of the Section The state of the Promised Lands Section in 2014 is strong - thanks to our active members and our great slate of officers. Our Section - stretching from DeSoto, Glades, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, and Hendry - includes some 179 planners from the public sector, planners from the private sector, retired planners, new planners, and those just interested in planning in the Sunshine State. And the state of our Florida Chapter is strong - and hopefully getting stronger thanks to the leadership of our state Executive Committee. Thanks are due to Brian Teeple, AICP from Jacksonville, who serves as our Chapter President until September of this year.
Alexis Crespo, AICP Immediate Past Chair Joseph D. Irvin, AICP Professional Development Officer Professional Development/Events Standing Committee Fred Reischl, AICP Jennifer Pellechio Josh Overmyer, CFM Legislative Committee Kathleen Oppenheimer Berkey, Esq., AICP
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Quick Links Promised Lands Section APA Florida Chapter APA
The Mary Gibbs Show
The recent APA Florida Executive Committee retreat in Seaside provided me with an opportunity to spend some time with planners from around the state to discuss the future of the APA Florida Chapter - as we seek to increase membership and provide better services for our 2,600 members statewide and the public we serve. I see some good things coming out of this retreat. First, APA Florida is going to use more high-tech tools - including a much improved website to serve its members better. The website should be up and running by the end of this month. Second, we are going to focus more on the professional and personal growth of planners. There is much more to being a planner than just accumulating AICP/CM credits. Many of our members are not certified planners, and some are doing just fine without being AICP members. We need to recognize that. Third, we need to do programming that is relevant to all types of planners (not just certified ones) - and cover emerging issues in Florida - from medical marijuana, to healthy communities, to topics we haven't even thought of yet. It also gave me chance to attend my first APA Public Policy Workshop a short drive away in Tallahassee. This was a fine event put together by our Chapter President-Elect Melissa Zornitta, AICP. I remember when Melissa started as a Planner II in Charlotte County when I was there in the 1990s. She's now the Assistant Director for the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission. Melissa is a good planner, cares about the membership (including the Promised Lands), and she will be a good leader for this organization.
Special thanks to Mary Gibbs, AICP the Director of Lee County Community Development as she shared with our Section members how Lee County is "Streamlining the Permitting Process." Some 30 attendees enjoyed an affordable lunch from Ciao of Cape Coral, and an informative and fun presentation by Mary.
The retreat and workshop were all were worthwhile, fun, and informative - but I'm glad to be home again. Speaking of home, please take a look at some of our professional development and social programs coming soon to our Section. Save those dates for future reference - especially May 16. You will want to want to check out "Everything You Wanted to Know About Planning and Zoning But Were Afraid to Ask." More about that below. Thank you and please contact me or any of our slate of officers if you have ideas for our future programs or want to lend a helping hand. Tony Palermo, AICP Chair, Promised Lands
This event is still eligible for 1 AICP/CM credit.
Planner Spotlight
Reconnecting Lee
Reconnecting Lee, a group that advocates for new urbanist concepts including transit-oriented design for Lee County's emerging urban core, is putting together a steady stream of programs in 2014. Carmen T. Monroy, Southwest Area Office Direct for the Florida Department of Transportation District One office is the confirmed speaker for the February 20 meeting of Reconnecting Lee, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. This event will be Persides Zambrano at the Southwest Interagency Facility for Transportation, the SWIFT Sunguide Center, at 10041 Daniels Parkway, Fort Myers Recruited by the City of - and will include a tour of this regional transportation Cape Coral in the 2001 management facility. AICP/CM credits APPROVED. American Planning Association (APA) The "Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012" will National Conference held be the topic for the next Reconnecting Lee meeting March 20 in New Orleans Persides from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. at the new Fort Myers Regional was hired as Principal Library, 1651 Lee Street, Meeting Room A/B. Planner for the Department of Amy Hoyt, GISP Lee County's GIS expert, Josh Overmyer, Community Development CFM, the Town of Fort Myers Beach's Floodplain (DCD). Her main function Administrator and Chris Heidrick, CPCU, ANFI, CFP owner of was to facilitate the Heidrick & Co. Insurance on Sanibel, are scheduled presenters. development and implementation of the The speakers will address different aspects of the BiggertPine Island Road Master Waters Act, the potential impacts on flood insurance Plan and assist DCD in availability, changes in cost of policy premiums, and impacts on transportation-related planning and land use in SW Florida. AICP/CM credits pending issues. In 2003 her
position was transferred to the Transportation Division in the Public Works Department and her main emphasis has been long range transportation planning since then. She is currently the Public Works Planning Manager and has been instrumental in facilitating a successfully sidewalk program designed and constructed with in-house forces and mostly funded through grants. During the recent period when the City experienced a tremendous building boom she successfully ensured concurrency for the City's roadway system through the development review process. Despite financial challenges, she facilitated the advancement of the widening of SR-78 from Chiquita Boulevard to Burnt Store Road (currently under construction) using an innovative multi-agency funding. Among other duties, she is the City's expert in road impact fee issues and represents the City at the Lee County MPO Technical Advisory Committee, serving as its current chairperson.
approval. For more information about Reconnecting Lee or any of these programs contact Julia B. Davis, AICP, 239-560-2114 or JBDavis1AICP@aol.com
Mixed-Use Development That Sells
Join City of Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson in welcoming Mark Pierce and Chris Gallagher - developer and architect of Sarasota's successful Citrus Square. A walkable, downtown infill development, Citrus Square features condominium living above ground-level shops and restaurants, outdoor cafes, and an open plaza. This is a free event at Pinchers Crab Shack at the Marina at Edison Ford, 2360 W. First Street in Fort Myers, February 21 going from noon-2:30 pm. Lunch is included. RSVP by February 17 please. AICP/CM credits APPROVED. RSVP with Ann Pierce Gardner at apiercegardner@gmail.com
Ethical Implications
Beverly Grady, JD of the Roetzel & Andress Law Firm and Jim LaRue, AICP of LaRue Planning & Management Services are teaming up again to talk AICP Ethics in SW Florida. "Ethical Implications in the Informational/Technological Age" drew a large crowd at the Orlando APA Florida conference in 2013. Ms. Grady and Mr. LaRue both kindly agreed to share their expertise and insights on planning ethics with our Promised Lands members Thursday March 6 from 4 pm to 5:30 pm at the Department of Community Development/Public Works Building on 1500 Monroe Street in Fort Myers. This will be a free program. All are welcome. AICP/CM Ethics credits APPROVED.
The Symposium
The Promised Lands and a host of other partners are planning something big for Friday May 16, 2014. A Symposium on Land Use aka -"Everything You Wanted to Know About Planning and Zoning (But Were Afraid to Ask)" will be of benefit to those old and new to the local planning process in SW Florida. We are putting together a whole day at Palmetto Pine Country Club in Cape Coral featuring the best and brightest in planning and zoning. It promises to be fun too. Be on the lookout for further announcements. Affordable sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Tony Palermo at apalermo@leegov.com for more information.
With more of twenty eight years of professional experience AICP Prep in the planning field in The Sun Coast Section's 17th Annual 2-day AICP Exam both public and private Preparation Course has been scheduled for Friday March 21 sector, Persides holds a and Saturday March 22, 2014. As in previous years, the Master of Science in Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council has graciously agreed to Planning from the host this course. Go here for more information.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville; a Postgraduate http://www.suncoastplanning.org/aicp-training-course/ Course in Transportation Planning, sponsored by Free AICP credits the World Bank and American Planning Association Utah Chapter: Venezuela's Federal http://www.utah-apa.org/webcasts Transportation Agency; and a Professional American Planning Association: Degree in Urban and http://www.planning.org/cm/free/ Regional Panning, from Universidad Simon 1000 Friends of Florida. Bolivar, Venezuela. She's http://www.1000friendsofflorida.org/communications/webinars a member of the / American Planning Association (APA) and Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of holds an AICP South Florida. certification from the http://www.cutr.usf.edu/category/digital-content/ American Institute of Certified Planners. She has been married for 26 years to husband Angel and is the proud mother of Mercedes, a senior in FGCU majoring in Chemistry and Angel jr. a junior in Notre Dame majoring in Business.
If you know of other AICP/CM resources, have ideas for future professional development programming, or want to help us in the future please contact Joseph Irving at 239-383-3990 or ee-mail him here.
Key Legislative Updates
SB 372 would increase the number of counties designated as "dense urban land areas" from eight to 15 where these developments are excluded from state review as DRIs. HB 7023 a wide-ranging economic development bill by the House Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee, would prohibit applying impact fees or transportation concurrency to new commercial developments of less than 6,000 square feet for three years, among other things. A city or county commission could still vote to opt out of the requirement. The Bill language was contained in HB 321 last year, which passed the House despite opposition from the Florida League of Cities, the Florida Association of Counties and 1000 Friends of Florida. However, HB 321 ultimately died in the Senate. HB 703 proposes several changes with regard to environmental regulation, including, among other things: o amending s. 163.3162(3)(i)1, F.S., which currently states that a county's powers to enforce wetlands, springs protection, or stormwater ordinances, regulations or rules, adopted before July 1, 2003 are not limited by other provisions in the subsection. The proposed amendment would state that any modification, readoption,
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or amendment approved on or after July 1, 2003 would be limited by the other provisions. o amending s. 163.3177(1)f, F.S., to state that board-enacted mandatory and optional elements of a comprehensive plan and plan amendments shall be adopted by a simple majority vote of the local government. Requiring a supermajority vote would then be prohibited. o amending s. 163.3194(5), F.S., to prohibit a local government from rescinding a comprehensive plan amendment that authorizes land uses other than agricultural use if the land continues to be used primarily for bonafide agricultural purposes and qualifies for an agricultural classification under s. 193.461, F.S. o amending s. 373.236, F.S., to allow water management districts and DEP to issue a permit for up to 30 years for a DRI approved pursuant to s. 380.06, F.S., and located in a rural area of economic concern. o amending s. 373.308, F.S., dealing with programs for regulating wells, to state that delegated local governments must follow well construction criteria and standards adopted by DEP or the water management district and such criteria and standards pre-empt additional local government well construction permitting requirements. o amending s. 373.709, F.S., dealing with regional water supply planning, to state that the water needs, water sources, water resource development projects and water supply development projects identified in a long-term master plan adopted pursuant to s. 163.3245, F.S., or a master plan development order issued under s. 380.06(21), F.S., shall be incorporated into a regional water supply plan and are exempt from certain analyses. SB 718 would require that the notice of a public meeting include a specific description of each matter to be considered at such meeting. The board or commission of an agency or authority of the state, a county, a municipality, or a political subdivision would be prohibited from acting upon a matter at a public meeting which was not included in the notice of such meeting unless the matter concerns an impending public health, safety, welfare, or other emergency that requires immediate action, and the consideration of the matter is approved by a super majority of the members of the board or commission.
Also feel free to read the recent issue of APA's Policy News for Planners for a close analysis of the President's State of the Union proposals and what they mean for planning and our communities.
APA FLORIDA ANNUAL SPONSORS Theriaque & Spain
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